A pier is a raised walkway over water supported by pillars made of metal/wood, or floating and secured using chains (see wikipedia:Pier). Also referred to in some places as a 'jetty', 'raft' or 'dock'. The definition of "pier", according to the International Hydrographic Organization, is "a long, narrow structure extending into the water to afford a berthing place for vessels, to serve as a promenade, etc."[1]

Piers can range in scale from very light structures providing a small pedestrian walkway, through to large solid structures with fixed piles extending over a mile out to sea.

Use man_made=breakwater for a solid structure designed to protect a harbour from waves and man_made=groyne for one designed to protect the shore from long-shore drift.

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How to map

Most piers are best mapped as an open way tagged with man_made=pier for the length of the pier. Wider piers can be tagged as areas. If it makes sense connect the shore end of the pier to the coastline. Use shared nodes where piers connect to other piers over the water.

For piers with a name use name=*. If the pier is used for mooring boats then add mooring=yes and optionally access=*. For floating rafts, tag with man_made=pier and floating=yes.

Lastly, connect the pier with other ways on land, otherwise it will result in a "island" that can't be used for routing. Create a highway=footway (or similar) from the pier's last node on land to nearby roads or other pedestrian ways as needed until it is connected to the main road/pedestrian network.